Weekly ‘Brief Sheet’ From Blowing Rock PD

March 19, 2013. Courtesy of the Blowing Rock Police Department, here is the weekly “Brief Sheet,” compiled by Capt. Aaron Miller on Tuesday, March 19.

This past weekend was a busy one for Blowing Rock Police, thanks in part to the Governors Highway Safety “Booze it and Loose it” traffic safety campaign.

Throughout the year, the Governors Highway Safety Program initiates campaigns to target traffic safety throughout the state. These campaigns last from one or two days to a couple of weeks. This most recent campaign began on Friday and lasted over the Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. This past weekend Blowing Rock Police Officers reported 16 criminal and traffic violations. The violations included:

1 drug violation

2 other criminal violations

1 no insurance

2 driving while license revoked

1 reckless driving

1 felony arrest

8 other traffic offenses

A pursuit on March 16th ended with the arrest of Lionel Francis Baxter, 45, of Vilas. Officer Matt Royal was on patrol on the 16th at around 4 am when he received a report of a black 2002 Mitsubishi taken without permission. Royal spotted the vehicle on Valley Blvd. The driver failed to stop for the blue light and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle pursuit went from Blowing Rock into Boone. Officer from the Boone Police Department and the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the pursuit which lasted for over 30 minutes. Baxter eventually stopped the vehicle and was arrested.

In addition to charges related to the unlawful taking of the vehicle and the pursuit, Baxter was also charged with possession of cocaine. Baxter was held at the Watauga County Jail on a $25,000 secured bond.

Another arrest was made earlier on the morning of the 16th for possession of a stolen tag. Jared William Pardue, 33, of Zionville was arrest after he ran a red light on Valley Blvd. Officer Royal discovered that the license plate on the vehicle had been stolen.

Pardue was arrest for possession of stolen property and held on a $500 secured bond at the Watauga County Jail.

Nicholas Mannella, 40, of Blowing Rock was arrest on March 8th. Officer Lance Dotson saw a vehicle matching the description of a vehicle involved in a shoplifting incident at Walmart. Dotson stopped the 2003 Chevy Avalanche and arrested the driver on 2 counts of larceny. Mannella was held at the Watauga County Jail on a $8,000 secured bond.